Display incubator and brooder



y 7, 1963 J. LYON 3,088,436

DISPLAY INCUBATOR AND BROODER Filed April 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

I A M as LYo N May 7, 1963 J. LYON DISPLAY INCUBATOR AND BROODER x FiledApril 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

LYON

$0 O/ ATTORNEY Unit? 3,088,436 Patented May 7, 1963 3,088,436 DISPLAY INCUBATOR AND BROODER James Lyon, R0. Box 6534, San Diego, Calif. FiledApr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,744 3 Claims. (Cl. 119-37) The presentinvention relates to an incubator and hatcher and more particularly to adevice for incubating and hatching eggs.

An object of the present invention is to provide an incubator andhatcher which is especially suitable for use in classrooms, shows,science fairs and the like, wherein there is provided excellentvisibility of eggs from all sides, and wherein humidity is readilyobtained, and wherein easy control of air change is readily obtainable,the present invention being constructed so that temperature adjustmentcan be easily made, and wherein there is improved thermostatsensitivity, the incubator and hatcher of the present invention beingconstructed so that there is the closest possible approximation ofnatural incubating conditions.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character describedwherein no base is needed and wherein the device is portable and can fitover any suitable rack of eggs or nests, the present invention beingconstructed so that the heater, thermostat, display lamp and allelectrical parts are mounted on the movable top of the incubator, andwherein the present invention incorporates or includes an unusualtemperature control system.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character describedthat can be utilized speedily and with precision by even inexperiencedoperators.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in a device of the character described that iseconomical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the mosteconomical use of material and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in thesubsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display incubator and brooder of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating certain constructionaldetails of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the wiring circuit of thepresent invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a displayincubator or brooder of the present invention which is shown to comprisea horizontally disposed circular or cylindrical rim 11, FIG. 2, and therim 11 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 12 thereinfor a purpose to be later described. Securing elements 13 areoperatively connected to the rim 11, and the numeral 14 indicates acylindrical transparent wall member which may be made of a suitablematerial such as a suitable transparent plastic, and the lower portionof the wall member 14 engages the securing elements 13. The numeral 15indicates a horizontally disposed top piece or support member which issuitably afiixed to the upper portion of the wall member 14.

A handle 16 is connected to the member 15 as shown in the drawings. Thenumeral 17 indicates a centrally disposed opening which is arranged inthe top member or support member 15, and a movable plate or disk 18 ismounted for movement into and out of open and closed relation withrespect to the opening 17, and the disk 18 is pivotally connected to themember 15 as at '19.

The numeral 20 indicates a tray which is arranged below the member 15,and the tray 20 is adapted to be used for supporting a plurality of eggs21 shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. As shown in the drawings the tray 20includes a circular wall section 22 as well as a horizontally disposedbottom wall 23 which has a plurality of spaced apart openings orapertures 24 therein. Spaced apart legs 25 may be used for supportingthe tray 20 in the proper location, and the numeral 26 indicates a panwhich is arranged below the tray 20, and the pan 26 is adapted to hold aquantity of water therein.

The numeral 27 indicates a bracket which is arranged within the wallmember 14 below the support member 15, and as shown in the drawings thebracket 27 includes a vertically disposed first portion 28, ahorizontally disposed second portion 29, and a vertically disposed shortthird portion 30. The numeral 31 indicates a brace or retainer which isarranged below the portion 29, and the brace 31 is adapted to be securedto the member 15 to help steady or maintain the parts in their properposition. The numeral 32 indicates a body piece which includes ahorizontally disposed section 33 which is arranged below the portion 29,and the body piece 32 includes an upstanding section 34 which isarranged contiguous to the portion 30, FIG. 2.

The present invention further includes a thermostat which is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 35 and, as shown in the drawings, thethermostat 35 includes a pair of wafers 36 which are connected to thelower end of the portion 28 as at 37. The numeral 38 indicates aU-shaped support element which is suitably alfixed to the portion 28,and an arm 39 is pivotally connected to the support element 38 as at 40.As shown in the drawings the arm 39 includes upper and lower sections 41and 42 which are integrally connected or joined by an olfsetintermediate section 43. The numeral 44 indicates a clip or holder whichis suitably aflixed to the lower section 42, and a thermometer 45 issupported by the clip or holder 44. The numeral 46 indicates anadjustable screw member which extends through the lower end of the arm39 for selective engagement and coaction with the thermostat 35.

The numeral 47 indicates a manually operable control mechanism whichincludes a switch unit 48 that is movably mounted between the portions29 and 33, and projecting from the switch unit 48 and afiixed thereto isan eX- ternally threaded fitting 49, there being an opening 50 in theportion 28 for the projection therethrough of the fitting 49, FIG. 5.Extending from the fitting 49- and connected thereto is a terminal orcontact 51 which is adapted to be selectively engaged by the upperportion or section 41 of the arm 39. The numeral 52 indicates a manuallyoperable or adjustable wheel which is arranged in threaded engagementwith the fitting 49, and as shown in FIG. 5, the opening 17 providesclearance or space so that a finger, such as the finger 53, can beinserted down through the opening 17 in order to manually engage androtate the wheel 52 in order to provide a convenient means for adjustingthe mechanism 47 as desired or required.

The numeral 54 indicates input wires or lines which extend through asuitable opening such as the opening 55 in the member 15, and the wires54 are adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electricalenergy. FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a wiring diagram wherein thenumerals 56 and 57 indicate heating elements which are electricallyconnected in the circuit, and the numerals 58 and 59 indicate lampswhich are electrically connected in the circuit, and the lamps 58 and 59may be a pilot light and display light respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of spaced apart insulatcd bushings 60are suitably connected to the support member and depend therefrom foruse in supporting the heating elements 56 and 57.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided adisplay incubator and brooder, and in use with the parts arranged asshown in the drawings, eggs such as the eggs 21 are adapted to beincubated and hatched, and the incubator and hatcher of the presentinvention is especially suitable for use in classrooms, shows, sciencefairs and the like. With the present invention the miracle of birth isillustrated graphically from the first pip of the egg, the struggle ofthe chick to escape its prison shell, and finally the fiuffy dried chickso enchanting to children and the young at heart. The present inventioncan also be used for bacteria culture and seed sprouting experiments.

The present invention offers a close approximation of natural incubatingconditions and simulates those conditions found in modern incubators.The present invention provides a constant, always available, body ofheat with which to cover the eggs, and this body of heat is not lost andno time is required for its replacement, when eggs are turned orhumidity adjusted. The device has concentrated capacity and is small insize and yet has a capacity to handle a considerable quantity of heneggs. The incubator provides excellent visibility of eggs from all sidesso that for example youngsters can surround it and all have a good viewif it is placed at a suitable height. Humidity is easily obtained withthe transparent device, and the size of the water pan 26 can be variedas desired or required. Easy control of air change is another advantage,and the vent cover 18 at the center top is very effective and is quicklyadjusted. Temperature adjustment is easily made and less critical, andthis adjustment is protected from the tampering and damage experiencedwith adjustment screws. The adjustment wheel 52 is located under thehandle 16, and this adjustment provides a vernier adjustment whichallows considerable movement so as to prevent a radical change intemperature occurring too quickly.

Some of the features or important advantages of the present inventionare as follows. The element 18 functions as an adjustable vent, thelight 58 serves as a pilot lamp or light, and the lamp 59 serves as adisplay light. The thermometer 45 is free of the tray. The wall 14 ismade of clear plastic material, and the rim 11 is reversible. As shownin FIG. 5 the finger 53 can be inserted down through the opening 17 torotate the wheel 52 and this provides convenient finger-tip temperaturecontrol. The heating element in the electrical circuit such as thatshown in FIG. 6 provides long life non-glow heat. The thermostat 35 isof the extra sensitive type. The thermostat has associated therewith ahigh degree of sensitivity and wherein the thermostat includes thewafers 36 which are arranged near the level of eggs 21 with minimumobstruction to view of the eggs. Lighting of the egg tray uses a specialcircuit as shown in FIG. 6, and when the pilot light and heater elementgoes olf, the other lamp becomes brighter to maintain constantillumination and more constant temperature and it is always possible toread the thermometer 45. The present invention can also serve as abrooder and when being used as a brooder it is only necessary :toreverse or remove the bottom rim 11 and place the device on blocks.

When using the present invention, the egg tray with the moisture pan 26therebeneath is adapted to be arranged on a suitable supportingstructure such as a layer of cardboard, blotter paper or cloth placed ona table of a suitable height, and then the incubator including the wall14 is lowered over the tray 20 and the parts are centered as shown inFIG. 2. The incubator cord 54 is adapted to be plugged into a suitableelectrical outlet, and sutficient time is allowed for heat-up and thenthe thermostat 35 is adjusted to a temperature such as 102, and thetemperature range is adapted to be 102 to 104'. To adjust thetemperature, the user should make sure that both lamps 58 and 59 are onand then the user should wait until the thermometer 45 shows thetemperature desired. Next, the vent 18 is opened, and the finger such asthe finger 53 is inserted through the opening 17 so as to turn thenotched wheel 52 and this wheel is adapted to be turned in such adirection until one light goes olf. The first heat-up may cause anovershoot of temperature and it is then necessary to again adjust thedevice and allow several hours for the temperature to stabilize beforeputting eggs in the tray. The vent cover 18 is adapted to be moved backto its original position after a temperature adjustment, and care shouldbe exercised to avoid rough handling of the device. The upper portion ofthe wall 14 will have a tendency to become warm and this condition isnormal and necessary to keep this portion of the plastic clear offogging or water condensation for good visibility.

To adjust the ventilation, the element 18 can have its position changedand the element or cover 18 can be kept closed during the early stage ofincubation, and very little opening of the top center hole 17 isrequiredthereafter. An opening as small as 41 inch is suflicientlyeffective in increasing the size of the egg air cell in accordance witha chart which may be provided With the present invention.

During incubation, air cell development is adapted to be checked with acandler to determine whether air change is required to dry down (enlargeair cell). In cold rooms '(such as during the night) the vent should beclosed if incubation is progressing normally.

To control the humidity, it is only necessary to increase or decreasethe area of water under the egg tray, and for average requirements aseven-inch pan is usually ample. In very dry rooms the present inventioncan be placed for use with a twelve-inch or larger pan of water aboutone-half inch deep. All the area under the eggs will help providemoisture and the incoming air through the small holes 12 in the rim 11will flow directly over the water. For high humidity, the vent 18 iskept almost closed. High humidity helps hatching, but too much moistureduring incubation prevents proper enlargement of the egg air cell.

With regard to the handling of the eggs, for incubation eggs are adaptedto be laid in the tray. If the eggs are packed tightly, the large endthereof is kept higher. Eggs are adapted to be turned morning andevening and at noon if desired. When turning, the position and locationof each egg is adapted to be changed. On the eighteenth day theinfertile eggs are adapted to be removed and the dead embryos areremoved and this is brought about by checking all the eggs with alight.

For hatching, the pre-incubated eggs are laid flat in the tray, and eggsneed not be turned after the eighteenth day, and chicks should break outof shells by themselves since if they are helped out they generally arecripples.

Since baby chicks should be kept warm, the present invention can be usedwithin an enclosure such as an open top 2 ft. x 2 ft. carton, and therim 11 can be used or removed and by removing the rim the heat can bebrought closer to the floor. The device can be arranged so that thelower edge of the wall portion 14 engages blocks which may be an inch ortwo high and the temperature can be maintained at the desired level, andthe chicks can be given feed and their bills dipped in water before theyare three days old.

Maintenance is relatively simple when using the present invention, andthe incubator tray can be cleaned readily after use. The plastic Wall 14can be readily wiped clean with a cloth when necessary.

Some of the other important features or advantages of the presentinvention are as follows. The device has no base and it is portable andfits over any suitable rack of eggs or nest, and this feature makes itparticularly valuable in dry climate because the entire area of theincubator can be water surface with the eggs supported a little abovethe Water.

In addition, the heater, thermostat, and display lamp and all theelectrical parts are mounted on the movable top of the incubator, andprimarily the present invention is a display device with a simple butunusual circuit.

Also, the present invention incorporates unusual temperature controlmechanism, and the temperature adjustment is practically tamper-proofsince it is below the surface and does not invite handling as does anadjustment screw. Also, the sensitive element of the thermostat islocated near the egg level and its action is transmitted to theadjustment portion by a simple leverage used in conjunction with aswitch whose position is adjusted by a simple but unique arrangement.The device is of generally cylindrical formation.

With further reference to the drawings, it will be noted that with thedevice connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, heat willcause the wafers 36 to expand or contract so as to selectively move thescrew 46 which is mounted in the lower end of the arm 39, and the screw46 can be adjusted as desired or required. This action will result inpivotal movement of the arm 39 about an axis extending through the pivotpin 40, so that the upper section 41 will move into and out ofengagement with the contact 51 whereby opening and closing of theelectrical circuit by means of the switch 48 will be accomplished as thearm 39 is caused to pivot. By rotating the wheel 52 as previouslydescribed, the switch 48 can be shifted back and forth so as to vary theparticular location of the contact 51 and this provides an adjustmentmeans since it provides a method whereby actuation of the switch 48 canbe varied by rotating the wheel 52 since the distance that the section41 must move to engage the contact 51 can be varied or regulated asdesired.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

What is claimed is:

1. A display incubator and brooder comprising a circular rim having aplurality of spaced apart apertures therein, securing elements connectedto said rim, a transparent cylindrical wall member extending upwardlyfrom said rim and said wall member having its lower portion engagingsaid securing elements, a horizontally disposed support member mountedin the upper portion of said wall member, a handle connected to saidsupport member, there being a centrally disposed opening in said supportmember, a vent cover pivotally connected to said support member and saidvent cover being mounted for movement into and out of open and closedposition with respect to said opening in the. support member; a trayarranged below said support member for holding a plurality of eggstherein, a pan of water arranged below said tray, a bracket arrangedbelow said support member and said bracket including a verticallydisposed first portion, a horizontally disposed second portion, and avertically disposed third portion; a thermostat connected to the lowerend of the first portion of the bracket, a support element connected tothe first portion of the bracket, an arm pivotally connected to saidsupport element, an adjustable screw member extending through the lowerend of the arm for coaction and engagement with the thermostat, a holderconnected to the lower portion of said arm, a thermometer supported bysaid holder; a manually operable control mechanism comprising a switchunit which is movably mounted below the second portion of the bracket,said switch unit including an externally threaded fitting, there beingan opening in the first portion of said bracket for the projectiontherethrough of said fitting, a contact extending from said fitting forselective engagement by the upper end of the arm, a manually operableadjustable wheel arranged in engagement with said fitting, and saidwheel being adapted to be engaged by a finger inserted through theopening in the support member, and an electrical circuit including inputwires and a pilot light and display light and heating element.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said tray includes abottom wall having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said thermometer includesa sensitive element which is arranged adjacent the level of eggs in thetray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS938,271 Perkins Oct. 26, 1909 1,063,555 Dittbrenner July 23, 19122,764,959 Church Oct. 2, 1956 2,939,423 Luce June 7, 1960

1. A DISPLAY INCUBATOR AND BORDER COMPRISING A CIRCULAR RIM HAVING APLURALITY OF SPACED APART APERTURES THEREIN, SECURING ELEMENTS CONNECTEDTO SAID RIM, A TRANSPARENT CYLINDRICAL WALL MEMBER EXTENDING UPWARDLYFROM SAID RIM AND SAID WALL MEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER PORTION ENGAGINGSAID SECURING ELEMENTS, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SUPPORT MEMBER MOUNTEDIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID WALL MEMBER, A HANDLE CONNECTED TO SAIDSUPPORT MEMBER, THERE BEING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED OPENING IN SAID SUPPORTMEMBER, A VENT COVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SAIDVENT COVER BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF OPEN AND CLOSEDPOSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING IN THE SUPPORT MEMBER; A TRAYARRANGED BELOW SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF EGGSTHEREIN, A PAN OF WATER ARRANGED BELOW SAID TRAY, A BRACKET ARRANGEDBELOW SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SAID BRACKET INCLUDING A VERTICALLYDISPOSED FIRST PORTION, A HORIZONTALLYY DISPOSED SECOND PORTION, AND AVERTICALLY DISPOSED THIRD PORTION; A THERMOSTAT CONNECTED TO THE LOWEREND OF THE FIRST PORTION OF THE BRACKET, A SUPPORT ELEMENT CONNECTED TOTHE FIRST PORTION OF THE BRACKET, AN ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDSUPPORT ELEMENT, AN ADJUSTABLE SCREW MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH THE LOWEREND OF THE ARM FOR COACTION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE THERMOSTAT, A HOLDERCONNECTED TO THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID ARM, A THERMOMETER SUPPORTED BYSAID HOLDER; A MANUALLY OPERABLE CONTROL MECHANISM COMPRISING A SWITCHUNIT WHICH IS MOVABLY MOUNTED BELOW THE SECOND PORTION OF THE BRACKET,SAID SWITCH UNIT INCLUDING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED FITTING, THERE BEINGAN OPENING IN THE FIRST PORTION OF SAID BRACKET FOR THE PROJECTIONTHERETHROUGH OF SAID FITTING, A CONTACT EXTENDING FROM SAID FITTING FORSELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT BY THE UPPER END OF THE ARM, A MANUALLY OPERABLEADJUSTABLE WHEEL ARRANGED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FITTING, AND SAIDWHEEL BEING ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A FINGER INSERTED THROUGH THEOPENING IN THE SUPPORT MEMBER, AND AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT INCLUDING INPUTWIRES AND A PILOT LIGHT AND DISPLAY LIGHT AND HEATING ELEMENT.